The availability of credible and affordable housing projects, which offer quality residential facilities, is crucial for major cities like Karachi and Lahore. However, there can be no justification, except for sheer greed, for actions such as demolishing Walton Airport, an alternative airport essential for emergency purposes, to make way for a Central Business District (CBD). Similarly, the destruction of thousands of acres of green agricultural land near Shahdara in Lahore, which disrupts the natural flow of water to the Ravi River, poses significant risks, particularly during floods when India releases excess water.
The responsibility for oversight and regulatory control rests with provincial, federal, and city governments to ensure that citizens receive fair treatment and that their hard-earned savings are not lost due to the greed and unethical practices of a few. In Lahore, citizens are even deprived of clean air to breathe due to environmental degradation caused by the proliferation of housing societies, brick kilns, and deforestation around the city.
Elected governments and taxpayer-funded departments should prioritize their regulatory functions over involvement in commercial housing schemes that primarily benefit the elite and powerful. The welfare of citizens must take precedence over the interests of the privileged few. When such societies defraud citizens of their life savings, it erodes trust between the people and government agencies, which is highly detrimental.
As Edmund Burke stated in 1775, the foundation of the state is built on trust, the rule of law, and the constitution. It is the primary constitutional obligation of the government to protect the lives and properties of citizens, ensure their basic rights such as education, clean water, healthcare, and above all, provide justice for all without bias.
Recent actions by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, such as ordering the sale of plots and compensation for victims of building collapses, highlight the importance of holding accountable those responsible for irregularities. However, disparities in treatment, as seen in cases like Constitution One Avenue Islamabad project, raise questions about fairness and justice.
The vision of Pakistan’s founders aimed to establish a modern democratic welfare state where the elite serve as servants rather than masters. However, instances of irregularities and corruption, as witnessed in Karachi and Lahore, undermine this vision and erode public trust in governance institutions.
Efforts by individuals like Ardeshir Cowasjee, who exposed irregularities and fought against corruption, are commendable. It is essential for governments to take decisive action against those involved in corruption and irregularities, regardless of their political affiliations or popularity. Appointments to key positions in state corporations should be based on merit and integrity, not political expediency.
